MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire -03/13/12)- Epistem Plc (LSE: EHP.L - News) ("Epistem" or "the Company"), the UK biotechnology and personalised medicine company, is pleased to announce a three year biomarker collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline in the field of fibrosis research. The collaboration will focus on identifying key characteristics of diseased fibrotic tissue on which Epistem will apply its proprietary RNA-Amp™ technology to facilitate building an in depth understanding of the disease.

RNA-Amp™ is highly sensitive amplification technology which is able to provide gene expression information from small tissue samples and low of numbers of cells e.g. those obtained from the bulb of cells at the base of a single hair follicle, as well as laser captured microdissected (LCM) samples. Epistem is now the preferred partner of choice for a range of pharmaceutical companies providing gene expression biomarker information to support drug development programmes.

In addition to its amplification technology, Epistem brings its well respected cell and molecular biology expertise to the collaboration. Epistem's broad platform allows protein and gene expression biomarkers to be identified in important disease pathways at an early stage of pre-clinical validation for translation through to later stage clinical validation and patient stratification.

For further information on Epistem please visit www.epistem.co.uk.

Epistem is a biotechnology company commercialising its expertise in stem cells in the areas of epithelial (oncology, gastrointestinal and dermatological) and infectious diseases. Epistem develops innovative therapeutics, biomarkers and diagnostics (Genedrive™) alongside contract research services to drug development companies. The Group's core expertise is focused around the regulation of adult stem cells located in epithelial tissue including the gastrointestinal tract, skin, hair follicles, breast and prostate and utilizing novel and proprietary next generation molecular biology.

The Biomarker Division is a sub-group of the Personalised Medicine Division and provides services to drug development companies using its proprietary RNA Amp™ platform. The highly sensitive RNA Amp™ biomarker platform is based on extracting mRNA from tissue biopsies, blood, plucked scalp hair, skin and laser captured microdissected (LCM) samples to measure drug-induced gene expression changes. Epistem's knowledge of epithelial cells and the ability to obtain gene expression information from small starting materials enables the group to be a preferred partner of choice for Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology companies in providing biomarker information to support drug development programmes.